This March, students from Olivet Nazarene University traveled to several destinations to spend their spring break serving others.
One of these teams, comprised of dedicated nursing and pre-medicine students from Olivet Nazarene University traveled to the Dominican Republic to combine their courses with service on a medical missions trip.
Led by Professor Karen Smith, the group of ten students partnered with GO Ministries and its medical division, GO Medical, to bring healthcare to remote communities where health care access is more a luxury than a right.
Each morning began with setting up mobile clinics in areas where healthcare facilities were nonexistent. Families formed lines to receive care that would otherwise remain out of reach.
“One thing that stood out to me at the medical clinic was the sincere gratitude of the people for the care they were receiving,” reflected Brooklyn Haid, one of the nursing students. “In an industry where it’s easy to feel underappreciated, their attitude had a huge impact, reminding me of the difference that kindness and appreciation can make in the healthcare experience.”
The students worked alongside local doctors, performing vital sign assessments for over 350 patients during their time there. Each case told a story of its own—children suffering from malnutrition and intestinal issues caused by contaminated water, adult patients struggling with unmanaged hypertension and many facing the complications of diabetes without proper medication. 
Many patients could be treated immediately with vitamins and medicine provided by Go Medical. For patients requiring additional testing or more in-depth treatment, Go Medical would help with continued medical assistance including transportation to and from medical facilities in Santiago for treatment there.
Lauren Smith, another student on the trip, recalled a moment that stayed with her: “God moved in big ways through the mobile medical clinics! We did more than care for people’s physical needs. We showed them the love and joy of Christ! We saw over 350 people during the clinic days, and all of them were prayed over before they left the clinic. The clinic was simply a vessel to share the love of God. I am so grateful that I was able to use the skills that Olivet’s nursing department taught me to further the Kingdom of God in the Dominican Republic!”
For the students, this experience provided invaluable pre-professional insight. The challenges of providing healthcare with limited resources demanded creativity and adaptability—skills that would serve them well in their future careers.
“This experience gave the students a glimpse into both medical missions and community healthcare,” Professor Smith noted. “It allowed them to see what it looks like to provide healthcare to an underserved and vulnerable population and though it is different from what we are used to, it is still effective.”
The transformation wasn’t just professional but deeply personal. Students returned from the Dominican Republic with a firsthand understanding of global healthcare disparities and the difference compassionate care can make in communities with limited medical access. Cross-cultural understanding hit home when students saw the relief of parents in helping their children heal and the gratitude of patients as they received life-altering care.
The experience served as a powerful reminder that medicine, at its core, is about more than treating conditions—it’s about treating people, sharing God’s love, bringing hope and dignity to every interaction.
For more information about Olivet’s Nursing programs, click here.
For more information about Olivet’s Pre-medicine programs, click here.
For more information about Olivet’s missions opportunities, click here.
